News

Redwood Shores Lagoon reopens to public

Lagoon was temporarily closed following massive sewage spill

Redwood Shores Lagoon is again safe for human contact after a ruptured pipe spewed thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the water in August, prompting it to be temporarily closed.

Wednesday's announcement from city officials to reopen the lagoon to swimmers, boaters and kayakers came after the San Mateo County Environmental Health Department reported that test results showed that the lagoon water no longer contained unsafe levels of coliform bacteria including E.coli.

Testing and environmental cleanup at the lagoon has been going on since an estimated 48,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the water from a ruptured main near Davit Lane and Anchor Circle on Aug. 25. The cleanup has so far cost Redwood City around $138,550, according to a staff report presented to the City Council on Wednesday night at a special meeting convened to address the disaster. Around $88,000 was paid for lagoon water treatment and $55,550 was paid for septic tanker trucks that collected and removed the spilling sewage.

The total cleanup cost is expected to increase due to ongoing water testing and analysis, continued tanker truck assistance and construction of a new sewer main, according to officials. The city is drafting a report on the incident for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Short story writers wanted!
The 33rd Annual Palo Alto Weekly Short Story Contest is now accepting entries for Adult, Young Adult (15-17) and Teen (12-14) categories. Send us your short story (2,500 words or less) and entry form by March 29. First, Second and Third Place prizes awarded in each category.